Free birds: Area farm raises turkeys that are ‘beyond organic’

Published: Monday, November 25, 2013 at 05:40 PM.

“They are processed and then vacuum sealed so you can get a turkey just like you would at the grocery store,” she said.

However, she said there are differences in turkeys from Rainbow Meadows compared to their store-bought counterparts.

“We don’t inject any brine into them. You are getting real pasture-raised turkeys that aren’t getting pumped up with any extra stuff. They are better for you because they have been given GMO-free grain, have not been given antibiotics and they are raised on pastures.” she said.

Pridgen said the turkeys also are never frozen, and that helps make them as fresh as possible.

She said turkeys are purchased through the farm’s website or at farmers markets in Raleigh and New Bern. Once the turkeys are ready, customers can either pick them up at one of the farmers markets or have them delivered.

She said the number of turkeys the farm raises vary from year to year.

“We have raised as many as 750, but only have 350 this year,” she said.

SNOW HILL — This Thanksgiving, some area residents will be eating a different kind of turkey, one that is pasture raised without any additives.

Genell Pridgen, co-owner of Rainbow Meadows Farms in Snow Hill, said she works with her parents Jeff and Sandra Garner to run the farm. She said the farm is in its 10th generation of ownership, with its roots going back to 1746.

She said the farm is technically not an organic farm because it’s not certified. She characterized the farm as being “beyond organic.”

“We do not treat our animals with any hormones or antibiotic, and they are free-range,” she said. “They are able to be outside, flap their wings and fly around. They get to be turkeys.”

Pridgen said the turkeys are fed with GMO-free feed. GMO feed is created when the feed’s genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

“We have feed made up with very small grains, mainly barley and oats,” she said. “It’s the same mix that we put in put in our pasture during the winter.”

Pridgen said the turkeys are brought to the farm in either May or June when they are one day old. The turkeys are then kept in a barn with heat until they are four weeks old. After that, the turkeys are out in the pasture until they are processed.

“They are processed and then vacuum sealed so you can get a turkey just like you would at the grocery store,” she said.

However, she said there are differences in turkeys from Rainbow Meadows compared to their store-bought counterparts.

“We don’t inject any brine into them. You are getting real pasture-raised turkeys that aren’t getting pumped up with any extra stuff. They are better for you because they have been given GMO-free grain, have not been given antibiotics and they are raised on pastures.” she said.

Pridgen said the turkeys also are never frozen, and that helps make them as fresh as possible.

She said turkeys are purchased through the farm’s website or at farmers markets in Raleigh and New Bern. Once the turkeys are ready, customers can either pick them up at one of the farmers markets or have them delivered.

She said the number of turkeys the farm raises vary from year to year.

“We have raised as many as 750, but only have 350 this year,” she said.